Colors of Bolzano - traditions, festivals, mentality and lifestyle

The event calendar of Bolzano is full of interesting festivals and celebrations that always attract numerous guests from different parts of the world. «Speckfest Alto Adige» is one of the most famous and unusual celebrations in Bolzano. This annual festival takes place on the third weekend of May. Famous and experienced chefs showcase their skills in cooking unusual food. There is one rule – each dish must have speck as one of its ingredients. During the celebration, all visitors are welcome to attend interesting master classes and learn to cook popular traditional treats.

Interesting concerts and performances have become an essential part of this event. Locals also like to organize Watten tournament – this card game is very popular in the area. Besides that, all wine cellars of Bolzano greet their guests and offer fine wine to them. That is why Speckfest Alto Adige attracts not only fans of meat delicacies but also connoisseurs of vintage wine. Christmas Eve is also a popular time for all kinds of festive events and fair trades, so there’s no wonder why so many tourists choose to visit the city during this period.

Charming wooden stalls appear on the streets of the city, and local sellers offer pastries, souvenirs, and Christmas decorations. For tourists, it’s a great place to purchase authentic souvenirs, such as woolen shoes for home, as well as handicrafts made of wood and glass. National food is an essential part of such fairs – there are always many sellers that offer culinary delights to visitors. Children are particularly fond of this holiday because Christmas is the only time of the year when they can try some exclusive desserts and candy flavors. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

The Ice Music Festival is an interesting “winter” event that usually takes place at the end of February. In order to organize this event, special Val Senales ice palace was built in Bolzano. Musicians perform on a beautiful scene made of ice. Moreover, they have to play exclusively instruments made of ice during this unusual festival. The instruments are made of ice, the age of which is approximately one thousand years. Visitors of this event claim that their favorite music pieces sound in a completely new way in the magnificent ice palace. Needless to say, this festival is a truly unique event of the international level. Towns near Bolzano also host a number of interesting events. For instance, the nearby settlement of San Genesio Atesino has a list of interesting national celebrations. During these events, locals dress in beautiful national costumes. Numerous stalls sell the main attribute of the national costume – the attractive Tyrol hat decorated with white feathers.

Summer is a not less interesting time to visit Bolzano as the event schedule is also packed with interesting festivals and celebrations. For more than 30 years, the Jazzfestival Alto Adige has attracted numerous guests to Bolzano during the first half of July. The respectable festival has several scenes, both indoor and outdoor, where best jazz musicians perform and communicate with the audience. As the weather is usually fine at this time of the year, concerts can take place in parks or even directly on the streets. Some performances take place in historical landmarks that still keep the fabulous atmosphere of the past.

The second half of July is the time for Bolzano Dance. This two-week-long event is all about dancing and its different aspects. It’s a great way to get acquainted with the European dance scene. The festival is both entertaining and educational because there are not only dance shows by professional artists but also dancing courses, interesting workshops, and meetings. Hip-hop, flamenco, Latin jazz, classical ballet, modern dance, and many other styles – Bolzano Dance has them all.